WNBA: Is that the end?

Wish I could make like the Janet Jackson song and enter a “No” to that question, offering a breakdown into an entirely new WNBA. But with a Detroit sweep of San Antonio in the best-of-five Finals, the season came to an abrupt end on Sunday. I really thought the Silver Stars would be more competitive, but the Shock is on a different level.
If the WNBA does expand, maybe it should look to going to divisions to make the postseason less predictable. The one positive is that a true MVP was named in G Katie Smith. I’m glad she gave a shout out to Storm coach Brian Agler for her defense, hounding the skill in her while playing for the defunct Columbus Quest of the ABL. Candace Parker was no MVP. She was impressive, but if you’re voting for “dominance,” it was Diana Taurasi who led the league in scoring. There hopefully will be plenty of seasons where Parker shows her MVP status and it’ll put this winning to shame. But, hey, it’s all about marketing anyway. And she’s definitely the MVP of that.
Those in Seattle woke to dark, rainy skies and the harsh reality that pro hoops are truly over in the city. To make matters worse, the Seahawks and Huskies lost in football. Except for as an Arizona grad, I’m happy abut the UW defeat (Go Cats!).
It made writing this final blog hard. I’ll be back in November to cover the Husky women and whatever else is thrown my way, but nothing — aside from another NBA team — can replace the Sonics. It’s weird to read about exhibition openers and trades and it all have nothing to do with Seattle. But that’s our reality.
The Storm has talked about getting a backup PG and Tully Bevilaqua has talked about returning to Seattle. Yes, she’s available to sign when free agency opens in December. The Storm should be able to keep its training facility for one more season and the KeyArena deal should be worked out. They’ll be stories that keep me busy during the offseason. Meanwhile the players are scattered across the globe playing and I’ll offer an update or two, especially with Lauren Jackson planning to debut in Spartak Moscow’s opener on Oct. 16.
So, to wrap up some unfinished business: A reader wanted final grades, only to really know if PG Sue Bird finally got an “A.” The answer is “Yes.” I’d give G Tanisha Wright a “B-” since she had some costly errors down the stretch and Sheryl Swoopes and Shyra Ely “Cs” since they didn’t produce as needed. Everyone else played their role and deserved an “A.”
If there are any other questions you’d like answered, I’ll be around this week. (Please note that comments on this blog will erase by November because we’re switching formats.) Then it’s off for vacation and back to a world without the NBA. I get chills thinking about it.

About Women’s Hoops

Jayda Evans covers college and pro women's basketball. She'll offer observations, critiques, occasional off-beat tales and answers to select e-mail inquires. Evans also has written a book on the Storm and women's hoops, called "Game On!" You can email Jayda or follow her on Twitter.